Just Different Things

This past week Alicia decided to try being Katie for a day. She tried her pacifier and carseat. I even found her trying to get into Katie's swing.

Anne and Alicia were talking to Katie and she was just loving the attention from her sisters. She kept smiling at them. The one above looks like Alicia is giving her a mouth exam.

Jared was out practicing some Volleyball moves with Richy and Alicia wanted to participate. She loved running around after a basketball and throwing it.

This week Katie started crossing her feet when she is in her carseat. It reminds me of my dad. He always does that when he sleeps.

I am Jared's home teaching companion. I am so lucky, this makes scheduling so much easier, and we get a date too. We took Katie with us. The family we visited had a cat. It was so curious about Katie. At one point the cat had its face right up next to hers. It was crawling all over her seat when we took her and and trying to figure out what her bottle was. She had also worked her had into this strange position. It remind me of an old-fashioned sailor's hat.

Short List (I Hope Not)

1. Woke up at 4:45am and been up since
2. Made and fed 2 girls breakfast and myself
3. Fed 1 baby 6 bottles
4. Showered and dressed 2 girls and myself
   
5. Changed 9 diapers
6. Wrote 1 journal entry
7. Emptied and filled the dishwasher
8. Cleaned the kitchen and dining room
   
9. Wrote my hubby on Skype
   
10. Won 1 game of Mahjong
    
11. Cleaned the clutter in the house
    
12. Sent girls to time-out 2 times


13. Changed the sheets on all 4 beds


14. Organized the Linen Cupboard
15. Put 2 Loads of Laundry in the Washer (each load takes 2 hours, that is standard in the washers here)
16. Folded 2 Loads of Laundry
17. Put 2 girls down for naps
18. Had cuddle time with my baby
19. Had the girls clean the family room
20. Got out the ironing board and didn't use it
21. Made dinner and fed 2 girls and 1 husband
22. Prepared myself and 1 baby for Enrichment
23. Went to Enrichment
24. Gave 1 girl fever medication

Aaaat Laaaaaaaaaast....

The title is supposed to make you think of that really famous song that I don't who it is sung by. Before I start I have a question. Is anyone else really frustrated with this blogging program? I can't move the picture around. The text never stays the way I put it. Extra space is always being randomly put between paragraphs, and the pictures are randomly deleted too. The cursor is constantly moving to somewhere else. It is all driving me crazy. And you can't copy, cut or paste things. Am I the only one with these problems? Love blogging, but this is a (pardon my french) a crappy program.

Anyway...to the title. That is in reference to the fact that I can finally put up these pictures. I had the girls make Valentine's for their grandparents and their cousins. It was alot of fun to teach the girls the names of their cousins then later show them their pictures and go over the names again. Anne is getting really good with it.

Four Years and Going Strong

Jared and I celebrated our fourth anniversary on Thursday. We were going to go out to dinner, but that morning decided to save the money and create a special and romantic dinner at home. I made a shopping list for Jared to get on his way home.

Anne wanted to help me set up the table. I have to admit that I was so excited about the idea of a romantic dinner at home. We planned on making the food together and sit down to peace and quiet (Anne and Alicia spent the night at Gma and Gpa's house). I loved getting everything prepared. I think this would have to be one of my favorite things we have done together. We decided to make it a tradition.

The finshed producted. I think Anne and I did a good job. Jared helped too when he got home.
We even got ourselves some "near wine". It tasted good. I haven't had grape juice since I was about 5 years old.

We made the whole meal from scratch. We are good!!! Jared made the steaks and the mushroom sauce to go over it. I made the twice-baked potatoes.

My wonderful husband brought home these beautiful flowers for me to put on the table. It has my 3 favorite flowers. Gerber Daisies are my most favorite, then roses, and then lilies.

This is Jared's gift from me. I had so much fun planning this and making it.

I took 4 toillete paper rolls and filled them with candy and little notes. The above picture is an example of the notes from one of the rolls. Each roll represented one year of our marriage. I put memories from each year that have been special to us on the notes. It was fun to relive the memories together. In a paper towel roll I put candy and reasons that I love him.

Jared told me what he was giving me a couple days early. In a week or so we are going to London. We get extremely cheap flights for there here. We are going to see so many wonderful things. I have been a couple times so there are things I want to show Jared. And we are going to see the stage version of the Lion King. I am so excited. Of course, there will be a blog entry on that.

Funny Night

For family home evening this week we had dinner together. I am trying to gather a whole lot of new recipes and my kids, Jared and the rest of the family are my guinea pigs. Not all have been successes, but I am surprised how many are.

After dinner all those who were still feeling well enough to, played games. That ended up being Robby, Ray, Jared, me and Katelyn. The other girls were in bed. This picture gives you an idea of how the rest of the night went.

Ray went to the U and my parents and so many others in my family went to BYU. Rike bought Ray this U of U shirt and Jared the BYU hat. I think in this picture Jared is somehow mocking BYU.

While we were playing this scarf got passed around and used in so many different ways. I live in a family of stooges. But I love it.

Oh, so pretty!!!

Eat you hearts out girls...that boy is MINE!!!

He just needs a leather jacket and bandana for his head and he could join a biking group.

This was the best part. Katie was looking at all of us with what looked like a scowl. Here she is looking at Robby. She takes her games seriously.

It was night filled with silliness and so much fun. Aren't those some of the best times in life.

Special Surprises

Rike came home yesterday morning from her trip to America. I really missed her. It is so good to have her home. Anne spent the night at Gma and Gpa D's house the night before so she could go up to the airport with her Gpa to pick Rike up. After church and naps the rest of us went over to the house to see her. I looked at the pictures of her trip with her and mom. It was fun to hear her commentary on it all.

The best part of the evening was when Rike showed us all the things she had brought home with her from various people, including herself. My wonderful mom had sent a suitcase full of stuff for me. She told me to call her when I opened it so that she could hear my reaction. I was not expecting what I found. The suitcase was full of precious things from all of my possessions that are being stored by my parents in Utah. We can't afford to get it all over here yet. In the suitcase was pictures, stuffed animals that I love, things I had made and things people had made for me. So many things for me to hang up and decorate my home with.

This was probably one of the best things that my mom sent over. It is a painting that is very special to me. I can't wait to hang it up. Don't you love my Mickey hat. It is from when I was working in Disney World.

Every Valentine's Day my dad gives his daughters a little gift. I always look forward to this. Jared decided he want so continue the tradition with our girls. This year I was wondering if the tradition was going go on. Then with all the things Rike brought back were these shamrock pants from my dad for Valentine's. They look very comfortable and are so cute. The only thing is that I can't wear them. My mom sent me the ones for my sister, which will never fit me, not even when I lose all the weight. Funny Mom. Well, they became dress-up pants for my girls. So the purpose is still served. Aren't they cute on Anne.

This was sent to the girls from their Great-Grandma D. She is so thoughtful and just loves these girls.

Great-Grandma D. also sent Anne this teddy bear. It is a February bear for her birth month.

Rike took a risk and bought Jared this very nice looking BYU hat. Unfortunately, I am the lone BYU fan in this household of U of U fans. This has created much debate during family get togethers, but luckily it is all in good fun. She also gave him a BYU t-shirt, which I stole from him.

My two girls have had so much fun playing with all the stuffed animals that were sent by my mom. This is the Donald that I got from Disney World when we went there when I was 3 years old. Have 2 memories of that trip: the submarine ride and dragging one of my parents into a gift shop to show them this Donald and ask them to get it for me. Now my girls have their own that they love (hopefully this means they will leave mine alone). And when Jared and I ever go to Disney World we would like to buy them each a little one and start a tradition.

Fun Times

I can't believe how fast this girl is growning. Where is my baby going? Her legs are filling out too. We called them frog legs for awhile there.

This is Anne and Alicia's favorite toy right now. Jared spent some time the other night explaining to them how it works.

Unfortunately, Anne inherited my problem with her pants. Our bums just seem to not function well in the job of keeping pants up. It is impossible, even with belts it does't matter how the pants are cut either. I have a hard time even with my maternity pants. To solve this problem we bought her some suspenders and now the problem is gone.

This is a picture of our nightly ritual right before the girls go to bed. I just love these people.

Moments Like These

I decided to take a walk down Memory Lane. These pictures won't mean anything to all the rest of you, but since I want to make a book out of these blog entries this one is for me and my posterity (if they ever are interested).

This picture was taken during one of the most peaceful and content times of my life. It was the time in my life where I had no worries and one of those times when you feel you have friends who truly loved me and sought out my company because I was me and not just because I was there.

I had moved to Germany to be with my family for a short time. I did a lot with the Young Single adults in our ward. Particularly, the goof of a guy on the far right (Mike Yanez) and the girl to left of me (Stephanie Stone). This picture was taken in Rothenburg during the Christmas season. We had so fun together. Plus this is the best my figure has ever looked. Oh, to have that body again.

The next pictures were actually taken by Rike on her trip to America this past month. I stole them from her facebook account.

The 2 pictures here are from my house in Farmington. I lived in this house longer than any other place in my life, by far. We lived there for about 9 years and I still dream about my life there and miss so many people that I knew there.

Part of our driveway had to be repaved one time and Kathi and I put our prints in the cement. I guess we left our mark.

This is my High School...Davis High School in Kaysville. Actually I moved away after the first term of my Senior year. I regret that even now. Although I do have wonderful memories of the other High School, I still wish I had been able to finish and graduate here. I am still hoping to find a way to be permitted to go to the reunions here in years to come. I just need to find a way.

A couple years ago I found out that they have torn down the old school (this broke my heart, I loved the old building and all its history) and replaced it with a new one...see first picture in the set. This last picture is more like how it looked when I was going there. Ruth, is that the auditorium?

Now this house is truly special to me. It is probably my favorite place on earth. This is the home that my grandparents built right before I was born and they sold it in 2000. That broke my heart. I have more memories in this home than anywhere else. It the most beautiful yard that I wanted to have my wedding party in and land behind it that we kids called the Canyon. We spent so much time back there. Growing up we lived close to my cousins. We were each other's best friends and we did everything together nad most of it was done here.

I worked at this grocery store from the time I was 14 til we moved just before I was 18. I loved it there (they have the best doughnuts).

Jared hasn't seen any of these things yet and I can't wait for the chance to show it all to him. Each of these place have made an impression on me and in some way or other made me who I am. I sure do miss the friends and memories I have from that place (many of those friends I have lost contact with).

44 Things You Don't Need to Know

My cousin did this on her blog and I loved reading it. I wondered how I would answer the questions, so decided to do it.

1. Do you like Blue Cheese? Absolutely not...grossy, grossy!

2. Have you ever Smoked? I am proud to say...no. I am so glad the the people here are finally taking action to make public places non-smoking.

3. Do you own a Gun? No, but if the world gets much worse I may consider it. I wonder what Jared thinks about guns. I have never asked.

4. What Flavor of Kool-Aid was your favorite? I actually never was a fan of it.

5. I don't know what this question is because Melissa didn't have it on hers.

6. What do you think of Hot Dogs? I LOVE hot dogs. When my uncle was here last fall, he offered to get us some American products from the commissary and do you know what my first request was...hot dogs!!!

7. What is your favorite Christmas Movie? I think that would be Muppet Christmas Carol. It makes me laugh everytime. I want to buy it, my girls really like the muppets. I have taught them well.

8. What is your favorite thing to Drink in the morning? Milk, definitely. I actually love milk with almost everything, especially pizza and hot dogs.

9. Can you do Push-ups? Nope, never have been able to. I am so out of shape. Actually I don't know if I have been in shape since I was 10 years old.
10. What is your favorite piece of Jewelry? I love earings and necklaces, I can't decide between the two. But I don't really like expensive jewelry or gold jewelry, it is impractical to me. I would just like a couple really nice pieces and the rest can come from Claire's or where ever else.

11. Favorite Hobby? Umm, I love drawing, painting, or just anything art. I just don't have much time to do it.

12. Do you have A.D.D? No, sometimes it seems I have the opposite.
13. What is one Trait you hate about yourself? I hate that I can't seem to be able to ever get my house really clean. It is something I really work on, but never seem to manage.
14. Middle Name? My middle name is Ann. I lóve the name and always wanted to use the name for my first daughter. Luckily Jared liked it too, so we used it.
15. Name 3 Thoughts at this moment:

• I need to put Anne down for her name
• Why is Katie grunting and groaning
• My lip hurts

16. Name 3 Drinks you regularly drink:

• Water
• Milk
• Orange Juice

17. Current Worry? That we need to get our food storage built up and all our emergency preparedness and get out of debt.

18. Current Hate? That I have so much weight to lose, and that I have to go through the pain to lose it.

19. Favorite Place to be? I have so many favorite places...home, Disney World, America, with family, etc.

20. How did you bring in the New Year? Umm...I slept until Jared woke me up, then I scowled at anyone who talked to me and watched the fireworks they do here. I am not a late night person.

21. Where would you like to go? I really want to home to America...someday we will.

22. Name 3 People who might complete this: I honestly don't know. I hope someone does, because it is so fun to learn more about people.

23. Do you own Slippers? Yes, I actually have 2 pairs. Both are pink (I am currently on a quest to become more in touch with my feminine side, and I am loving it).

24. What Shirt are you wearing? A white one. I am very casual right now.

25. Do you like sleeping on Satin Sheets? Not really, if my feet weren't so dry I think I would love it.

26. Can you Whistle? I am so lame. I can't whistle. I think I am the only adult in the world that can't.

27. Favorite Color? Right now that would be pink all the way. I love anything pink. That is the most dominant color in my girls' wardrobes.

28. Would you be a Pirate? I love the myths of pirates and Pirates of the Carribean is one of my favorite movies, I just hate the last 2 they made. It ruined the whole thing for me. But I don't think I would like to be one. Not a fun life.

29. What Songs do you sing in the AM? I really just sing primary and Disney songs with my girls. We like other children's songs.

30. Favortie Girl's Name? There are so many. I love the names we gave our girls. Plus I love Elena (pronounced the spanish way) and Grace. Unfortunately, Jared doesn't like Grace, so I guess we will never use that one.

31. Favorite Boy's Name? We have such a hard time with this one. I love Adam and Michael and Benjamin. I am a traditionalist when it comes to names.

32. What's in your Pockets right now? Don't have any.

33. Last thing that made you Laugh? Reading this tag on my cousin's blog.

34. What Vehicle do you drive? Uh...our car is currently totaled and in the shop. So we are borrowing Rike's car.

35. Worst Injury you have ever had? Does a C-section count?

36. Do you love where you Live? I love our apartment. It is so beautiful. A lot of thought was put into making it practical and beautiful when it was made. And I love our little village.

37. How many T.V's do you have in your place? We have one in the family room and one in our room.

38. Who is your loudest Friend? Probably Andrea Auras.

39. Do you have any Pets? Thank goodness, no!! Neither Jared or I like them. Plus, my girls and Jared are enough for me.

40. Does someone have a Crush on you? I hope my husband does.

41. Your favorite Books? I LOVE books. It is so hard to pick favorites. I borrowed a series from my mom about a little village in England that I just love. Harry Potter is always one I can read over and over again too.

42. Do you Collect anything? Not really anymore. I guess books count.

43. Favorite Sports Team? Too many to count.

44. What Song do you want played at your funeral? I Believe, by Diamond Rio. And Each Life that Touches our Own from the Hymn Book.